After a long battle with heart issues, mom joined her son Jeffrey in heaven on March 8, 2022. Benita was born in China, and after escaping Communism, made her way to Hong Kong and finally to America. Since the day she stepped foot in this country, she was a proud American which had a strong impact on her entire family. Mom lived an eventful life before coming to the U.S. and made life-long friendships which she maintained until the day she passed.
After coming to the U.S., mom worked at both Life Magazine and NBC Studios. She soon met the love of her life, Ron, had six kids and 63 years of adventures. With six kids, mom was constantly involved in school functions, watching sports, being in the PTA, planning St. Bonaventure Fiestas, playing in bowling leagues, and her decades-long birthday group with OLA moms who became lasting friends. In the midst of all the activities with her children and life, mom found time to go back to work and have a career with the Oxnard School District. Once again, she built friendships that lasted much longer than her tenure at the district.
The oldest of seven children, she was the consummate big sister and had a special relationship with each of her siblings. She left behind a lasting legacy with her children, 15 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Her grandkids were blessed to travel with mom to any place in the world they chose for their 13th birthdays building memories and a bond with her that will last them their lifetimes.
She is survived by her husband, Ron; daughter Lauren (Mike) Burns; son Mike (Editha) Colitti; daughter Robyn (Christian) Smith; daughter Christi (Brian)Hill; and daughter Jodi (Greg) Nocero and a tremendous supporting cast of grandkids, great-grandkids and all you unofficially adopted kids…You know who you are!
Mom was such a graceful lady and made an impact on everyone she met. We will miss her dearly but are so grateful for the wonderful life we were able to have with her by our sides.
A vigil will be held at 4:00pm, Wednesday, March 16th at the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on March 17th in the Mulcahy Center at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Ventura. A reception will follow after the funeral services at the Colitti Residence. Directions will be available at the funeral services or DM one of the Colitti kids for the address. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude’s Research Hospital.